MONTREAL (AP) — What a difference 72 hours made for Kirby Dach.
On Tuesday, the Montreal forward drew the ire of fans after an ill-timed icing and a defensive lapse in overtime led to J.J. Moser’s winning goal in a 3—2 Game 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
By Friday night in front of a roaring Bell Centre crowd, Dach flipped the script, turning frustration into redemption with a goal and an assist in the Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime win that gave Montreal a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
“I think you take that night (Tuesday) and you kind of sit on it, dwell on it and understand what you could have done better,” Dach said. “Come Wednesday morning, you’ve got to be able to move on and get ready for tonight’s game."
The vitriol spewed online toward the Dach following the Game 2 loss, forcing the 6-foot-4 center to delete his Instagram account.
Many Canadiens fans also took to social media and local sports talk radio phone lines, calling for coach Martin St. Louis to scratch the forward in favor of Joe Veleno or veteran Brendan Gallagher.
St. Louis wasn’t having any of it.
“I’m not going to give up on a player unless he gives up on himself,” St. Louis said. “Kirby Dach is a really good hockey player. Like any good player, they make mistakes sometimes at key moments. It happens to everyone. It happens to a lot of good players. For sure, he was upset but that’s not a reason to give up on a player.”
Canadiens fans in attendance on Friday were quick to shower the 25-year-old player with love from the get-go. Dach was given a hearty ovation when shown on the scoreboard during warm-ups, with fans chanting “Kir-by! Kir-by!” both before and throughout the game.
“I didn’t really expect it, so it was nice,” Dach said. “The fans have been unbelievable for us all year. For me, they’ve stuck by my side through a lot. It definitely meant a lot.”
Those chants only increased following Dach’s assist on linemate Alexandre Texier’s opening goal early in the first period.
The applause reached a crescendo following confirmation of Dach’s second-period tally, a shot from inside the faceoff circle that bounced off Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh and past goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to tie it at 2.
The newly-formed line of Dach, Texier and Zachary Bolduc, playing together for the first time all season, were on the ice for all three Canadiens goals, including Lane Hutson’s overtime score 2:09 into the extra session. The trio finished the game with a combined six points and six of Montreal’s 29 shots on goal on the night.
It has been a trying season for the oft-injured Dach, having scored just eight goals and 15 points across 37 games during the regular season. His offensive output Friday marked Dach’s first goal and first point at the Bell Centre since Feb. 28. It was also the forward’s first multi-point outing since Jan. 29.
“I’ve been through a lot on the injury front,” Dach said. “I’ve gone through the ups and downs of it and the learning lessons of what it takes and maybe what works and what doesn’t work. I’ve kind of found a recipe to be able to stay in game shape and sharp in the mind mentally and physically be ready to go when it’s time to go.”
Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers look to clinch the series over the Houston Rockets in game four of the Western Conference first round. The Lakers defeated the Rockets 112-108 in overtime in the last matchup on Saturday. LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points, and Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33.
The Rockets are 29-23 in Western Conference games. Houston leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 48.1 boards. Sengun leads the Rockets with 8.9 rebounds.
The Lakers are 33-19 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles has an 8-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets score 115.2 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 114.6 the Lakers allow. The Lakers score 6.3 more points per game (116.3) than the Rockets allow their opponents to score (110.0).
TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 19.8 points over the last 10 games.
Deandre Ayton is scoring 12.5 points per game and averaging 8.0 rebounds for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 47.2 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 8.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 110.9 points, 39.6 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 10.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: day to day (ankle).
Lakers: Austin Reaves: day to day (oblique), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -3.5; over/under is 220.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Raptors won the last meeting 126-104 on Friday, led by 33 points from Scottie Barnes. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 18.
The Raptors are 33-19 in conference matchups. Toronto has a 7-4 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Cavaliers are 33-19 in Eastern Conference play. Cleveland averages 119.5 points while outscoring opponents by 4.1 points per game.
The Raptors are shooting 48.2% from the field this season, 1.8 percentage points higher than the 46.4% the Cavaliers allow to opponents. The Cavaliers average 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.8 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Raptors give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Barnes is averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 20.3 points and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games.
Harden is averaging 23.6 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 116.8 points, 38.9 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 52.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.1 points per game.
Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 118.9 points, 42.5 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Immanuel Quickley: out (hamstring).
Cavaliers: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CHICAGO — A few hours before hitting cleanup in Wrigley Field on Wednesday, Felix Reyes reached under his red practice jersey and pulled out the pendant he wears around his neck, a constant reminder of his No. 1 supporter.
“Every at-bat, every game, he’s always here,” the 25-year-old Phillies rookie said.
The pendant features a small photo of Reyes and his dad, also named Felix. The photo was taken in February 2024, back home in the Dominican Republic, just a few months before Felix Sr., was struck by a car and killed at age 62 in the family’s hometown of Bani.
When young Felix was called up to the majors from Triple A last week, folks throughout the Phillies’ player development system and Latin American scouting and development departments quietly rejoiced.
“He’s an unbelievable kid, an unbelievable human, the kind you’d like to see your daughter bring home,” said Sal Agostinelli, the organization’s longtime international scouting boss who now serves as a special adviser in that department.
“Everybody loves him. He’s humble. Polite. He’s dedicated to his family. He’s worked his butt off to get where he is.
“We’re like a big family here. Felix has gone through a lot. That’s why we’re all so happy for him. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
Though physically imposing at 6-4, 256 pounds, Reyes is a baseball underdog. Like most young players from the Dominican Republic, he hoped to be signed at age 16, but was repeatedly passed over because he didn’t run well, didn’t have a true defensive position. Luis Garcia, a Phillies scout in the DR, always liked Reyes’ bat, however. He kept tabs on the kid as he moved around the diamond, even trying pitching at one point in an effort to catch a team’s eye.
Garcia eventually convinced another DR-based Phillies scout, Carlos Salas, to take a look. He, too, saw potential in the bat. They took some video and sent it to Agostinelli. For the bargain rate of $10,000, the Phillies took a chance and signed Reyes. He was already 19, a late signee by international standards. Maybe the late signee would be a late bloomer.
As Reyes was being passed over by other teams in the DR, he thought of quitting baseball.
His father would not let him.
“My dad introduced me to the game when I was a kid,” Reyes said with Phillies’ Spanish language interpreter Diego D’Aniello lending a hand. “He always took me to the field. I always say that after God, he’s the reason I’m with the Phillies organization right now because at one point I wanted to be done with the game. He’s the one who talked to me all the time and insisted I keep playing.”
Reyes’ journey through pro ball has been a slow climb. He signed during the pandemic and spent three years in the low minors bouncing between corner infield and outfield positions, trying to capitalize on his signature tool, his bat. He made it full-time to High A Jersey Shore in 2024 and had an outstanding showing in winter ball in Columbia following that season. Still, at the start of the 2025 season, there wasn’t a roster spot for Reyes in the minors, so he had to stay in extended spring training. Some privately say the team was considering releasing him. Others say the Phillies simply wanted him to get more at-bats before being assigned to Double A Reading.
Either way, Reyes finally got to Reading a few weeks into the season and when he did, he took off, solidifying himself on the organization’s radar screen in 95 games there.
Reyes led the Eastern League in batting average (.335), doubles (34), slugging (.572) and OPS (.937). He hit 15 homers and was league MVP.
Edwar Gonzalez, in his first season as the big club’s assistant hitting coach, watched Reyes’ development in his previous role as minor-league hitting coordinator. Gonzalez saw an improved hitter and student of the game in 2025.
“The previous winter in Columbia, that’s when he started turning the page,” Gonzalez said. “He had an amazing season there. He learned what pitchers were trying to do to him and he took that into our season. His attention to detail improved. He bought into his routine, started taking more advantage of resources and little by little got better. He bought into game-planning. He studied pitchers. Those qualities had previously been questionable. But in 2025, he was a different player. He showed great maturity.”
That happens when life hits you hard.
And Gonzalez knows how hard life hit Reyes.
Reyes had just finished a game with the Jersey Shore club on May 28, 2024. He retreated to the clubhouse and was blindsided by dozens of voice mails and texts on his phone. Earlier that day, his father, an electrical technician, had been struck by a car and killed while walking on a street back home. His younger sister, Yasmil, was injured in the accident, but survived thanks to her quick-thinking father, who was able to get her far enough out of the way to avoid full impact.
Gonzalez called Reyes that night.
“We connect with these players and we care about them,” Gonzalez said. “As soon as he heard my voice, he started crying and screaming on the phone.”
After the accident, Reyes returned to the DR and spent two weeks with his mom, Juanamaria, and five siblings, two who still live at home. While at home, Reyes experienced a wide range of emotions, from heartbreak to resolve. He realized how much his family needed him. The best way to be there for them was to continue to follow the dream he shared with his dad.
“My faith in God has helped me a lot,” he said. “It’s been one of the keys to keep me going. I’ve been through a lot of difficult times. It has helped me be stronger and move on for me and my family.
“I believe my dad is grateful to me for the way I’ve taken care of our family after everything that has happened. In the same way, I’ll always be grateful to him and never forget all he did.”
Gonzalez is amazed by the strength Reyes has shown.
“Something like what he went through can crush a person,” he said. “But he does the opposite. He keeps fighting. He doesn’t stop throwing punches. We were talking when he moved up. I told him, ‘You’re here because you’re doing great things.’
“It’s one of the most amazing stories I’ve seen in my career.”
Reyes’ journey to the majors included a storybook moment, a home run in his first big-league at-bat last week. The Phillies are struggling mightily and are searching for offense. There are still flaws in Reyes’ game, such as plate discipline, but he’s shown the ability to improve and if he continues to do that, the opportunities will continue to come.
Felix Reyes proudly displays a necklace that features a picture of him and his father, Felix Sr.
Baseball is a performance-based business. Reyes understands that. He understands a lot of things now. And he knows the man on the pendant he wears around his neck is with him every step of the way.
“This was our dream,” Felix Reyes said. “I think he’s proud.”
Jayson Tatum continued to shine in his return from injury with 25 points and Jaylen Brown also scored 25 to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Tatum was 5 of 9 on 3-pointers in just his 19th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon. Brown scored eight straight points late in the fourth for a 96-92 lead that put some distance between them and a Sixers team brimming with confidence following a surprise Game 2 win in Boston.
Tatum buried a 3 for a 100-96 lead and Payton Pritchard hit a step-back 3 to make it 103-98. Tatum, still looking to regain his top form after not playing for nearly a year, may just be there and hit the final 3-point dagger for the 106-100 lead that even sent Allen Iverson headed toward the exit.
Philadelphia played again without center Joel Embiid for Game 3 as he continues to ease his way back into practice following an appendectomy on April 9.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Paul George added 18.
LAKERS 112, ROCKETS 108, OT
HOUSTON (AP) — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and Los Angeles took advantage of Houston team missing Kevin Durant for a win to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.
Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
SPURS 120, TRAIL BLAZERS 108
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephon Castle had 33 points and San Antonio overcame the absence of Victor Wembanyama to beat Portland for a 2-1 series lead.
Dylan Harper added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who trailed by 15 points in the third quarter. Game 4 of the first-round series Sunday at the Moda Center.
Before the game Spurs coach Mitch Johnson announced that Wembanyama would not play while he continues to recover from a concussion he sustained in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday had 29 points for the Trail Blazers, who were making their first home playoff appearance since 2021, but couldn’t ultimately take advantage Wembanyama’s absence.
Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) attempts to steal the ball from Los Angeles Lakers center/forward Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
After defending their home court in the first two games, the Lakers headed to Houston knowing they would receive the Rockets’ best punch in Game 3. And that they did.
With the news they would be without Kevin Durant for the second time in the series, the Rockets played every bit like a team whose back was against the wall. They crashed the offensive glass, flew around the court and tried every option they had on the bench in search of a different result.
However, just like they did in the first two games, the Lakers endured every swing and matched Houston’s desperation en route to a nail-biting 112-108 win in overtime.
It wasn’t a perfect game. No playoff games typically are. But the Lakers proved once again that they can win ugly and in unfathomable ways. And that’s the reason they own a commanding 3-0 lead in the series with a chance for the sweep on Sunday.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the crazy win.
A fourth quarter (and overtime) in two parts
It may seem like it happened last week, but the Lakers led by 15 at one point in Game 3. They dictated the terms, their offense clicked and they looked like the team deserving to be up so convincingly in the series. Then the second half happened. And then it snowballed in the fourth quarter.
After trailing for the majority of the first half, the Rockets outscored the Lakers by 11 points in the second (excluding overtime). They clamped down on the Lakers’ offense and continued to be relentless in the paint and the glass on the other end. With 41 seconds left in regulation, the Rockets were suddenly up six. The brooms would have to be put back into closets across Los Angeles.
The Lakers had blown it. They had not only failed to step on the neck of their weakened foe, but had, even worse, afforded them hope — or so it seemed.
Like they have done all year, the Lakers ultimately came through in the clutch. LeBron James’ game-tying 3-pointer capped off a wild final minute and sent the contest into overtime, where the Lakers ultimately staved off the Rockets’ potentially final gasp.
All of the turmoil, injuries and close games the Lakers endured this season actually ended up preparing them for moments like this. The playoffs are fought in the trenches and it’s the trenches where the Lakers have thrived.
Marcus Smart’s omnipresence
If LeBron James’ clutch 3-pointer goes on to be the lasting picture of Game 3, then it was Marcus Smart’s fingerprints and sweat that were smeared over the lens.
To say Smart played a part in the win would be a severe understatement. In his 39 minutes, Smart finished with 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 7 stocks (5 steals and 2 blocks) and was the only starter with a positive net rating. The Lakers wound up needing every stat.
Beyond the all-encompassing numbers, Smart consistently found himself involved in every big play down the stretch.
It was his steal and three free throws that breathed life back into a Lakers’ team left for dead with 25 seconds left. It was his three that opened the scoring in overtime. And it was his timely rebounds and trips to the free-throw line that sealed it.
The Houston Rockets had possession with 27.8 seconds left in regulation and a 101-95 lead
Marcus Smart outscored Houston by himself 11-7 to end the game, including 8-7 by himself in overtime alone pic.twitter.com/xV5OXfCPgz
Smart’s Game 3 performance was the latest example of what has made him so valuable this season and the Lakers’ collective spirit in the first round.
No matter how severe the odds, Smart feels like he can beat them with sheer effort and guile alone. And so far, he’s proving he’s right.
A big night from the bench
Once it became known that the Lakers would be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves for a portion, if not all, of their series against the Rockets, it became evident that it would take a collective effort to extend their season.
After getting key contributions from the likes of Smart and Luke Kennard in the first two games, it was the bench in Game 3 that came up big.
The foursome of Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Bronny James scored a combined 24 points and were each a positive in the plus/minus department. In contrast, the Rockets’ six reserves scored just 3 points and all finished with a negative plus/minus.
Outside of their totals, each player off the bench also chipped in from a momentum perspective.
Hayes’ hard rolls and athleticism on both ends helped alleviate a quiet offensive game from Ayton. LaRavia and Vanderbilt’s hard-nosed defense and second chance creation kept the team afloat during the rough patches. And Bronny James’ helpful second quarter minutes — highlighted by his alley-oop finish that was thrown from his father— provided a spark.
It was always going to take the entire team to make up for what is currently lost. And with all signs pointing to a near return for Reaves, the Lakers have not only succeeded in holding down the fort, but also put themselves in a better position than anyone could have imagined.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 24: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs had a tough time in Portland, dealing with physicality and athleticism, but they dug deep for their most impressive win of the season without the mighty Victor Wembanyama. They mucked up the Trail Blazers offensive sets and held them to 111.5 points per 100 possessions, which is good enough for the 37th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.
They helped loads off the 3-point line to clog the inside, but Portland’s pressure was as unforgiving, forcing six early turnovers and making it equally as difficult to score in the paint with all the incoming help. Yet, the Spurs who stepped up the most were Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. They gave the team direction when it was badly needed and took them to the finish line.
Observations
The Spurs faced their largest deficit of the night in the third quarter (15), and took a one-point lead going into the fourth thanks to their defense getting nasty and some big-time scoring from Harper, which carried over into crunch time. One questioned if it was a peak into the future, watching Castle and Harper bail out the team, but after pondering before the deadline of this write-up, the future is now. They are both great shot creators and will be the best backcourt in the NBA before long when they start sharing the court more often at the start of games and polish their 3-point shots.
Without Wembanyama (concussion), this is an even series. The Spurs’ front line was vulnerable because it had to go small when Luke Kornet sat, yet they were able to stop the Blazers from going wild on the glass. Still, the Blazers had no fear of attacking the lane for a bucket or kick-out pass, and they did damage in transition for most of the game. This also unlocked 29 free throw attempts for the Blazers, but them being so ineffective at the line was a big help to the Spurs.
Portland’s attack wasn’t anything special. The transition success stemmed from the defense forcing misses, plus turnovers and the Spurs’ inability to generate free throw attempts for 2.5 quarters, which cut the flow of the game.
Last season, Andrew Nembhard was the player whose stock went up the most in the playoffs. This year, it’s maybe Scoot Henderson, whose hot streak continued behind a stream of 3-point shots in the first half, but he went cold after intermission.
Jrue Holiday is a timeless baller, which adds credibility to any advice he gives the youngsters. He was giving it to the Spurs for three quarters, attacking through screen rolls and did well denying the ball. His fingerprints were all over the third quarter, when the Blazers built their largest lead of the game (15).
Deni Avdija is one of the biggest foul baiters in the league, which got him a ton of free throw attempts to soften the blow of his poor shooting. He even drew two of Fox’s three first-half fouls, which limited his aggression following intermission.
The Trail Blazers came into this game, making only 30.3 percent of their 3-point attempts, and the only spot they shot well from deep was the left corner. They shot 36.8 percent this time, but that number is affected mostly by the Spurs defense making them tighter after intermission.
Carter Bryant was instant impact when he came in, hustling to break up transition and screen for his teammates. Yet he was a bit exposed because the Blazers didn’t want to guard him closely for lack of a dependable outside shot, which made things harder for his teammates. Still, he was way more of a positive than a negative.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Emmet Sheehan’s night started with a PitchCom issue.
There weren’t many hiccups for the Dodgers starter after that.
But, somehow, Los Angeles still lost.
Emmet Sheehan twirled a gem against the Cubs, but somehow, the Dodgers still lost. AP
The 26-year-old right-hander dominated the red-hot Cubs on Friday, but a Dodgers bullpen implosion saddled Los Angeles with a stunning 6-4 defeat at Dodger Stadium.
“He did a great job,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his starter. “It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t get him a win. Because he pitched his tail off.”
Sheehan, who entered with a 5.85 ERA, struck out seven of the first nine batters he faced and appeared to have control of all his pitches.
His fastball velocity — the subject of much consternation earlier this year — dipped from 95-96 mph to 92-93 mph in the fourth inning, though it came back up later.
Sheehan ultimately went 6 1/3 innings and tied his career high with 10 strikeouts. He allowed four hits and one walk.
His pristine line, however, was scuffed up in the seventh, when Alex Vesia replaced him following a Moises Ballesteros base hit. Vesia gave up two knocks, hanging one earned run on Sheehan while adding two to his own ledger.
Blake Treinen relieved Vesia an inning later and surrendered a solo shot to Alex Bregman — who was booed throughout the game — that tied the game at four.
The Cubs managed to beat the Dodgers on Friday despite 10 strikeouts from Emmet Sheehan. AP
Tanner Scott ultimately yielded the game-winning runs in the top of the ninth after Dansby Swanson took him deep to left.
Asked about his bullpen usage after the game, Roberts said, “I wouldn’t do anything different.”
“We all gotta do our parts,” he added. “Just tonight, we didn’t get it done.”
Offensively, the Dodgers started sleepily against Chicago righty Jameson Taillon, but after Hyeseong Kim recorded the team’s first hit in the third inning, they briefly woke up.
Alex Freeland worked a walk following the Kim hit, and two batters later, Will Smith plated Freeland and Kim with a three-run home run to right field.
The Dodgers tacked on another run in the fourth via a Kim single, but that’s all they’d score the rest of the night.
What it means
Baseball fans everywhere know the Dodgers are almost certainly the real deal, but they’ve sure been scuffling. They’re now losers of five of their last eight — and have some real bullpen questions.
Who’s hot
Hyeseong Kim. After a two-hit afternoon against the Giants on Thursday, the shortstop logged two more hits in the series opener against the Cubs. He scored a run, plated another and stole a bag, too. He had another hit taken away in the seventh thanks to a wild defensive play by the Cubs.
In his last four games, Kim has five hits, three RBIs and two steals.
Who’s not
Shohei Ohtani has been struggling lately, going 0-for-3 to start the series vs. Chicago. AP
Shohei Ohtani. The four-time MVP has found himself in quite the rut at the plate. After going 0-for-9 in the final two games of LA’s road series with San Francisco, he’s 0-for-3 to start things off vs. Chicago.
During one of his at-bats early in the contest, he didn’t look comfortable at all, with his helmet falling off his head on a bad swing and a miss.
Roberts, though, told reporters he thought “there was a better effort” from his star slugger.
“Obviously,” the manager said, “the results aren’t what we would hope for. But, yeah, I thought today was better.”
Up next
The Cubs and Dodgers will square off again at Dodger Stadium on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) looks on after tagging Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) out at home plate during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs (17-9) came into the series against the Dodgers (17-9) red hot having won nine straight games, their longest winning streak in 10 years. The Cubs couldn’t touch Emmet Sheehan in the series opener Friday at Dodger Stadium, but as soon as he came out Chicago pounced on the L.A. bullpen and scored six unanswered runs for the 6-4 comeback win.
Sheehan’s slider stifled the Chicago batters in the series opener, and he started the night with two perfect innings and four strikeouts. Ultimately, Sheehan wasn’t involved in the decision but struck out 10 in 6 1/3 and on 101 pitches in his most dominant start of the season.
With two outs in the third, Will Smith powered an opposite field three-run home run off a Taillon four-seam fastball to give the Dodgers the first lead of the game.
The first base hit of the night against Sheehan, a ground-rule double, came off the bat of old friend Michael Busch in the top of the fourth.
Andy Pages continues to impress. Busch tested the arm of Pages for some unknown reason with a three-run deficit. Alex Bregman singled to center, and Pages charged and fired a bullet to cut down Busch at the plate. Smith made a great tag as well to preserve the shutout for Sheehan.
It was the first outfield assist for Pages on the season but likely not the last.
Hyeseong Kim drove in Max Muncy, again with two outs, to tack on a fourth run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth.
The Cubbies had runners at the corners with one out in the sixth looking to battle back. The Chicago batters adjusted, waiting on Sheehan’s slider. Dansby Swanson was hit by a pitch, and Busch singled him to third with his second hit of the game.
Sheehan earned his ninth strike out of the night when Bregman swung through a slider. Whiff No. 10 came from an ABS challenge initiated by Smith. Once again Smith used ABS to snag an extra strike back. Ian Happ went down on strikes, and the Cubs remained off the board through six.
It was the calm before the Chicago storm. After Sheehan was relieved in the seventh the Cubs attacked a shaky Dodgers pen.
Alex Vesia came in to take over for Sheehan with one out, and he was unable to hold off the late-inning Chicago offense. Vesia walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Swanson tripled to center field. Pages crashed against the wall, but he was unable to make the catch. Two runs came in to break up the shutout and put the Cubs right back in the game.
Nico Hoerner singled in Swanson, and all of a sudden it was a one-run game. Vesia reared back to strike out Busch and prevent the Cubs from tying the game at least momentarily.
Defense was on display by the Cubs in the home half of the seventh. Pages received a taste of his own medicine when he was thrown out in an attempt to stretch a double into a triple. Hoerner also dazzled with the glove to get the speedy Kim out at first.
Alex Freeland singled with two outs against Ryan Rolison to extend the inning and bring up Ohtani. The arguably slumping slugger struck out for the third time on the night.
Alex Bregman hit a bomb off Blake Treinen in the eighth to tie it 4-4. Happ singled. Moisés Ballesteros doubled but was thrown out at the plate by Kim’s relay from Pages. Another spot-on tag from Smith erased another run at the plate to keep it tied.
Tanner Scott continued to mightily struggle on the mound this year. Swanson completed the onslaught on the L.A. bullpen with a two-run home run to seal the deal on the come-from-behind victory.
The Cubs are going to be a problem.
Friday particulars
Home runs: Will Smith (3), Alex Bregman (3), Dansby Swanson (6)
WP — Ryan Rolison (1-0): 3 IP, 2 hits, no runs, no walks, 1 strikeout (35 pitches)
LP — Tanner Scott (0-1): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, no walks, no strikeouts (17 pitches)
Sv — Corbin Martin (1): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
Up next
Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11 ERA, 1.87 WHIP) looks for a dominant start after failing to find consistency as a starter thus far this season (4:15 p.m.; FOX). Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) starts for Chicago.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Eric Haase #18 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Miami Marlins in the seventh inning at Oracle Park on April 24, 2026...
The Marlins pounced on Adrian Houser and handed San Francisco a 9-4 loss.
Houser surrendered eight runs, all earned, on a career-high 11 hits, two of which left the yard, and took his third loss of the season Friday night to open a three-game series against Miami at Oracle Park.
The Marlins (13-13) led 8-0 by the end of the second inning, which was more than enough behind Sandy Alcantara, who only allowed the Giants (11-15) to turn nine hits into three runs across six frames.
It didn’t take long for the Giants to fall back to earth after taking two of three from the Dodgers. APThe Marlins (13-13) led 8-0 by the end of the second inning, which was more than enough behind Sandy Alcantara, who only allowed the Giants (11-15) to turn nine hits into three runs across six frames. AP
Rafael Devers and Willy Adames were the only Giants kept off the bases as the team banged out 11 hits, matching their seventh-best total of the season. They are 6-0 when totaling 12 or more hits.
Jung Hoo Lee sent a solo shot on a hop into McCovey Cove in the eighth inning. His second home run of the season gave Lee his third hit of the night and the Giants their fourth run for the first time in five games.
What it means
The Giants rode their arms to a series win over the Dodgers. But since their season reached an early apex with Wednesday’s shutout win that clinched the series, they’ve dropped their past two games. They fell to 1-4 behind Houser, who remains their only starter yet to earn a win.
Jung Hoo Lee sent a solo shot on a hop into McCovey Cove in the eighth inning. Getty Images
Who’s hot
Luis Arraez hit safely in the 19th game of the 25 he has played this season, raising his batting average to .320 with a 3-for-5 night. Arraez provided the only hit in Thursday’s shutout loss, and his second opposite-field single Friday night drove in Eric Haase with two outs for the Giants’ third run of the fifth inning.
The pitching staff had been on a roll, with the lowest ERA in MLB over the past week entering the game (2.22), but that was quickly put to a halt when the Marlins jumped all over Houser.
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Houser’s ERA swelled to 7.36 as he allowed at least four earned runs for the fourth consecutive start. The Marlins scored on him in all four innings he touched the rubber in his worst outing of the season, culminating in a three-run home run from Connor Norby that extended Miami’s lead to 8-0.
Adames’ 0-for-5 performance dropped him to 2-for-28 with 13 strikeouts over his past six games.
Devers’ OPS stands at .565 after striking out twice and grounding into a double play. He had a chance to stunt Miami’s momentum when he stepped into the box already down 3-0 in the bottom of the first.
With runners on first and third and one out, Devers rolled over on an 0-1 sinker and allowed the Marlins to turn two and escape the jam. It was the sixth double play Devers has hit into in 26 games, tied for the second-most in MLB. The Giants, meanwhile, are tied for the league lead with 24 as a team.
Up next
The Giants host the Marlins for two more to wrap up their home stand, and they will have to win both to take a third consecutive series after stringing together two in a row for the first time this season.
LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 2.86) gets the ball against RHP Eury Pérez (2-1, 4.15) in a Saturday matinee.
MONTREAL (AP) — Lane Hutson scored on a slap shot at 2:09 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series that has opened with three extra-time thrillers.
Hutson fired a shot from the top of right circle that went through traffic and found the top left corner behind goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy on the only shot on goal in overtime.
Kirby Dach tied it for Montreal with 7:17 left in the second period. He fired a snap shot through traffic from the top of the right circle that beat Vasilevskiy on the short side.
Game 4 is Sunday night in Montreal. The Canadiens took the opener 4-3 on Sunday and the Lightning countered 3-2 on Tuesday night.
MAMMOTH 4, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lawson Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span in the second period and Utah won the first NHL playoff game in the state, beating Vegas for a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night in Salt Lake City. In Las Vegas in the first two games, Vegas won the opener 4-2 on Sunday and Utah replied with a 3-2 victory Tuesday.
The Mammoth are in their second season in Utah after leaving Arizona.
MacKenzie Weegar and Dylan Guenther scored for Utah in the first period, with Guenther striking on a power play. Crouse had a tip-in at 4:06 of the second and struck on a long shot at 9:48 to make it 4-0.
Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for the Mammoth, who had only 12 shots on goal against Carter Hart. Clayton Keller had two assists.
DUCKS 7, OILERS 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson scored 42 seconds apart in the third period, Mikael Granlund had a goal and two assists, and Anaheim celebrated their first home playoff game in eight years with a victory over Edmonton and a 2-1 series lead.
Jeffrey Viel and Jackson LaCombe also scored in the third and Lukas Dostal made 20 saves for the upstart Ducks, who have poured in 16 goals in three games to take an early lead in this first-round series against the two-time Western Conference champion Oilers. Mason McTavish and Alex Killorn scored early goals.
Hundreds of fans who tossed their Golden Knights jerseys into a bin in exchange for a Utah Mammoth sweater before Game 3 of the teams' opening round series had plenty to cheer about Friday night.
The Mammoth scored four unanswered goals and held off Vegas' late rally for a 4-2 win in Salt Lake City to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Lawson Crouse scored twice in the second period, including the game-winning goal, to lead Utah's offensive attack. MacKenzie Weegar and Dylan Guenther also scored for the Mammoth, while Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots.
Jack Eichel scored his first goal of the postseason in the second period, while Nic Dowd cut Utah's lead in half in the third period with his second of the postseason. Carter Hart made eight saves, as Utah managed just 12 shots.
"They got the first goal, I thought we came in, we had a good first 10 minutes," Eichel said. "We knew it was gonna be a good environment. I thought we played a good game. It was a bit of a weird one. We didn't give up a ton."
Vegas' 20-shot differential made it difficult to understand how the Knights lost an ample opportunity to steal the home-ice edge back, especially with Utah managing just one shot in the third period.
The Mammoth continued to do a good job of slowing Vegas' offensive attack in the neutral zone, which has meant quality chances from the offensive zone.
Vejmelka, for the most part though, was a wall for the Mammoth, improving to 2-1 in the postseason after allowing just two goals for the second straight game.
"It's always unfortunate when you lose, there's gonna be games where you play great and you don't get the outcome that you want," said Dowd, who added three shots to his goal. "I think there's a reason why it's a seven-game series and not a one-game playoff or a three-game series. You're not gonna win every single game. You do the math, you can lose 12 and still win a Stanley Cup.
"We're on to the next game."
KEY MOMENT
With former Knight Nate Schmidt in the box for an interference call against Tomas Hertl, Vegas had a chance to seize momentum by scoring a power-play goal before the second intermission. A goal would have cut Utah's lead in half, and clearly would have been momentous for Vegas coming out of the locker room down 4-2, rather than 4-1.
KEY STAT
0 for 4 ... After finishing the regular season with the sixth-best power play (24.6%), the Knights failed to capitalize on any of their four opportunities in Game 3. They were 1 for 1 in Game 1 and 1 for 4 in Game 2, but failed four times in Game 3. After a power play in each of the first two periods, two more came in the third period, but the Knights couldn't bully the newest franchise.
"Obviously, the power play, we have to find a way to score as a group," Eichel said. "We hit two hockey posts in that second one in the second period. It just needs to be simplified, urgency, get pucks to the net, crash the net. But at the same time, we gotta be confident when we have it and make the right play. Unfortunately, we weren't able to score tonight. It's something we need to help the team with the man advantage."
WHAT A KNIGHT
Eichel appeared to be as active as he could have been during 22:23 time on ice. He had three shots to go along with his goal. He also registered 6:37 TOI during the power play, and another 0:25 during a penalty kill. Last season, after the Knights fell behind 1-2 in their opening-round series with the Minnesota Wild, Eichel had an assist in the Knights' 4-3 overtime win in Game 4, the first of six straight playoff games that he registered a point.
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights continue their best-of-seven playoff series with the Mammoth in Game 4 from Salt Lake City on Monday.
"We're a veteran group," Eichel said. "We've been in a situation of being down in series. We know it's a best-of-seven. In terms of a response, just go out there and play our game. Do the things that make us successful. We're gonna prepare for Monday and go find a way to win a hockey game."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) plays the puck against the Utah Mammoth during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center.
SALT LAKE CITY — Lawson Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span in the second period and the Utah Mammoth won the first NHL playoff game in the state, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night in Salt Lake City. In Las Vegas in the first two games, Vegas won the opener 4-2 on Sunday and Utah replied with a 3-2 victory Tuesday.
The Mammoth are in their second season in Utah after leaving Arizona.
MacKenzie Weegar and Dylan Guenther scored for Utah in the first period, with Guenther striking on a power play. Crouse had a tip-in at 4:06 of the second and struck on a long shot at 9:48 to make it 4-0.
Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for the Mammoth, who had only 12 shots on goal against Carter Hart. Clayton Keller had two assists.
Jack Eichel got Vegas on the board with 6:40 left in the second. Nic Dowd made it 4-2 with 3:08 left in the third.
Weegar opened the scoring with 7:01 left in the first, tracking down a feed from Liam O’Brien and blasting the puck between the circles.
Guenther converted on a power play with 2:14 to go in the period on a slap shot from the top of the left circle.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 24: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners slides safely into home plate for a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium on April 24, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mariners fans are still waiting for this offense to break through in the way we know they’re capable of, but in the meantime, please enjoy this Classic Mariners One-Run Win, featuring: a strong-n-long outing from a starter! A shutdown performance from the bullpen! And everyone’s favorite, Just Enough Offense!
The Mariners got on the board first with some small ball: Randy Arozarena led off the second inning with a double, moved to third on a Luke Raley flyout, and scored on a nice two-out RBI single from Cole Young, Young pouncing on a first-pitch fastball and sending it back where it came from.
This was especially good because Cardinals starter Andre Pallante was hard for the Mariners hitters to solve; he racked of up five of his six strikeouts in the first five innings on the slider, which the Mariners hitters just could not seem to pick up. So this is a good plan here by Young to ambush the first-pitch fastball and not let Pallante get to his slider. Someone is putting himself in line for a postgame trip to Dave and Buster’s.
The Mariners were able to small-ball around another run in the fourth, thanks to what we’ll call a leadoff Josh Naylor double (walk, stolen base), but Arozarena and Raley then struck out back-to-back on the slider, natch. With two outs, though, Dominic Canzone came through this time, punching a sinker through the hole in the left side of the infield to score a hustling Naylor.
That slide would be a dream for foley artists to score, but who cares, it worked.
However, all that careful small-balling was undone in the fourth. After looking deadly sharp for 3.1 innings, Kirby seemingly lost the handle in an at-bat against Alex Burleson, walking him on five pitches – the fifth being one Cal Raleigh could have challenged, and in retrospect, probably should have, because Kirby suffered some poor luck after. Jordan Walker hit into what could have been an inning-ending double play but was able to leg it out as the play developed slowly, and then Nolan Gorman turned on an inside sinker and pulled it into right field for a ground-rule double. It looked like the Mariners might have lucked into not allowing a run to score, pinning Walker at third thanks to the ball bouncing into the crowd, but in a 1-2 count Masyn Winn reached into the opposite batter’s box to parachute a slider into right field for a game-tying single. Frustrating!
The Mariners weren’t able to answer back in their half-inning despite Cal Raleigh walking and taking second on a wild pitch, but Kirby did his job to hang another zero with a quick inning in the bottom of the fifth despite giving up another annoying parachute single.
Josh Naylor then helped out in the sixth with a solo homer, clobbering a fastball at the bottom of the zone for his third homer of the season – a 418-foot blast that looked softer than it was actually hit, at 107.3 mph off the bat. This would wind up being the difference in the game, and it’s great to see Naylor’s bat continue to heat up as he wreaks havoc in all facets of the game:
After striking out Arozarena on that dang slider again, Pallante’s day was done, as the Cardinals went to the bullpen to get lefty Justin Bruihl to contend with Seattle’s raft of lefties – meaning Luke Raley’s day was also done. Rob Refsnyder kept things going with a seven-pitch walk, and Canzone – who won the right to stick around against a lefty – followed that with a walk of his own. Sadly, Cole Young killed all those good vibes by grounding into a double play, knocking his contributions back to net zero for the game. He’s gonna have to work harder if he wants to earn that trip to Dave and Buster’s postgame.
Kirby came back out for the seventh with his pitch count still in the 70s, but Winn ambushed a first-pitch sinker for a ground ball base hit. Not messing around, Dan Wilson mashed the Matt Brash button and then Matt Brash mashed José Fermin into a fine paste.
After Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo combined to hurl a scoreless eighth, Andrés Muñoz came on for the close and again showed a solid return to form, allowing one stupid little ground ball base hit on a slider but also netting two strikeouts, including the game-ender.
Fun! We would love to see some more offense, of course, but this felt like a Vintage Mariners Win, like a favorite book you’ve read before but will happily read again. Sometimes it’s nice to play the hits.
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24:Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors announced Friday that point guard Immanuel Quickley will not be available for the remainder of the team’s first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Quickley, who was recovering from a hamstring issue, re-injured it during the rehabilitation process. The team added that an update will be provided “as appropriate”.
After several injury-plagued seasons, Quickley appeared in 70 this past year – his most since 2022-2023 when he was a member of the New York Knicks. He is also one of the team’s better three-point shooters at 37% and he attempts the most threes per game on the team. That floor spacing is imperative on a team that is challenged offensively at keeping up with their opponents when the scoring starts coming. On the year, Quickley averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists per game.
In his absence, the Raptors have started Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter so far in the series. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, who was very effective in Game 3 with 22 points off the bench, could also start in Quickley’s place.
The Cavs catch a break with Quickley being ruled out for the series, which narrows the margin of error even more for the Raptors. Cleveland’s offense was very poor in Game 3, but they muscled their way through the first half with a tie and put themselves in position to win entering the fourth quarter. The final score is not indicative of how much the Cavs fought back, so there is good reason to believe the offense will look better in Game 4 just due to regression back to the mean. Toronto, meanwhile, shot 61% from deep in Game 3 – well above their season average.
They did not necessarily need him for Game 3, but Toronto certainly would have liked to see Quickley on the court for another near must-win Game 4. The Raptors trail the series 2-1, and its is fair to say that the first two games are more indicative of what the baseline is for these two teams. The Cavs have had one of the best offenses since the All-Star break, and the Raptors have struggled mightily in that same timeframe.
The Cavs and Raptors will square off in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.
